Bi-directional pneumatic impactor for orthopedic devices

A bi-directional pneumatic impactor for imparting impact forces to an object comprising:

• a support structure defining a piston cylinder and at least one grip member whereby a user can manually grasp the support structure, wherein said piston cylinder includes opposite end faces, each end face defining a corresponding recess;
• a piston reciprocally moveable along a piston axis within the piston cylinder;
• a pressure control system coupled with the piston cylinder and adapted to be connected to a supply of pressurized gas, wherein the pressure control system is adapted to reciprocatingly move the piston along the piston axis;
• an impact transfer assembly disposed on the support structure and adapted to be coupled with the object whereby the impact transfer assembly transfers impact forces generated by the piston to the object,
• wherein the impact transfer assembly includes an elongated hammer pin, the hammer pin being axially moveable relative to the piston and the support structure, the hammer pin including first and second impact members at opposite ends of the hammer pin, wherein the piston can strike the first impact member to impart impact forces to the hammer pin in a first axial direction and the piston can strike the second impact member to impart impact forces to the hammer pin in an opposite second axial direction, and
• wherein the hammer pin is axially movable by the user relative to the support structure between a first position in which the second impact member is disposed within the recess and the piston can strike only the first impact member, and a second position in which the first impact member is disposed within the recess and the piston can strike only the second impact member;
• and
• wherein the bi-directional pneumatic impactor is selectively switchable between a driving mode and a retracting mode by the user moving the hammer pin to one of the first position and the second position, wherein,
• in the driving mode, the piston generates forceful impacts on the first impact member in the first axial direction and the impact transfer assembly transfers the impact forces to the object;
• and,
• in the retracting mode, the piston generates forceful impacts on the second impact member in the second axial direction and the impact transfer assembly transfers the impact forces to the object.